----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2010 10:50:06 -0800 (PST)
From: Jamie Crampton <jamiecfc1@yahoo.com>
Subject: Terry Hall hearts XTC!
Message-ID: <143452.5447.qm@web112305.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
Hello Chalkies
In this week's NME (cover date 1.1.11) under the heading of "the Greatest
100 albums you've never heard" a-rocketing in at number 65 (though I don't
think there is any kind of chronology about it, just the way they came out I
think) is our very own White Music, under the recommendation of the
Specials' Terry Hall who says:-
"They're one of the best groups that Britain has ever produced. I don't
know why everyone goes on about Morrissey making the best British pop music
when in fact XTC did it better than anyone else. I remember when they did
"This is Pop" and I just thought, "yeah this is Pop. This is Pop." It
seemed like such a brilliant thing for them to say. Pop is what they were
doing, and they were writing all these great songs, going on about the whole
punk thing and not being embarrassed about writing great pop songs. XTC did
a song called "Statue of Liberty", that was great as well. But the words
'This is Pop'. Brilliant."
Terry also says that "Andy wrote a song for my new album". But doesn't say
what it is, or when it's coming out. Good to know he's still writing
though, unless of course it's an old song.
Jamie Crampton

------------------------------
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 15:18:12 -0800 (PST)
From: Jon Rosenberger <wile1coyote@yahoo.com>
Subject: Crass Comercialisasmmmm
Message-ID: <430796.97627.qm@web38106.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Greetings chalkers, apologize for the spam but this is chalk-centric.
I have an extra T shirt from the 2001 UK Chalhills gathering in Oxford and
was wondering if anyone might be interested in owning one.
This of the 'Shut your wretched piehole u rediculous prick ' front logo. Its
certainly a cracker and certain to bring a chalkhillian smile to you each
and every time you open the shirt drawer.
Size is a mens larger
contact OFF the list please
wile1coyote@yahoo.com
Thanks to Relph-san for the space
Mole

------------------------------
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2011 23:06:01 +0000
From: <homefrontradio@hotmail.com>
Subject: Skylarking Vinyl
Message-ID: <COL107-W337BF2E2BDDACA6623D65DD0E30@phx.gbl>
Hey Kevin,
>Well, I just read of the impending reissue and expansion of SKYLARKING, and
>I'm excited, but for one little glitch-it's apparently only coming to us on
>vinyl. Okay, I get the rebellion... [snip] ...Is there any chance that
SKYLARKING will indeed see a CD
>release?
Andy clarified this. Ape only owns the digital re-release rights to Rag and
Bone Buffet, The Dukes, and The Dub Experiments. Virgin still owns the rest
of the albums. However, they gave the rights to analogue re-releases to
Ape. Ape can put out a Vinyl Skylarking, but not a CD one: that has to come
from Virgin. I guess this also means Ape paid for the remastering job.
Since it was remastered *for* vinyl, a digital release would require
remastering aimed at that format.
This is an absolutely stellar vinyl release: the sound is incredible,
(Andy's "30% improvement" is far too conservative, IMHO), and it gets better
the louder it goes. Digitising it from the low signal level to be able to
be heard within the fixed volume range of an I-Pod + earbuds would require
that excessive, currently-fashionable compression that would undo the gains
the remaster offers anyway, especially neuteuring Colin's Bass Playing, and
muffle the airy harmonies. Then it would most like be reduced to an MP3 by
most listeners, thus changing everything again. If you want digital, you
can probably stick with the 2001 Japanese Remaster. For any audiophile
nerds on the list: they vinyl is a must-have.
Cheers,
Simon
http://popculturehymnbook.blogspot.com/

------------------------------
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 15:28:32 -0800 (PST)
From: Happy Puppy Records <happypuppyrecords@yahoo.com>
Subject: XTC DVD: Life begins at the rock
Message-ID: <62297.42499.qm@web162011.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
So I spotted this recent 'bootleg' DVD in HMV in Canada, who seem to be
importing alot of these type of releases lately (with a nice huge box
numbero ZERO on the front cover) with no info about which company put it out
(not suspicious at all!)
Anybody else picked this up? I'm wondering about the quality before I open
it, to see if it's worth keeping - I'm not sure, but I think this was
originally shared within the XTCWeeds group awhile back...and curious if the
transfer is any better, or from the same source?
Thanks!
~~Lee R.

------------------------------
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:49:08 +1100
From: <Dominic.VanAbbe@csl.com.au>
Subject: RIP Paul C
Message-ID: <BC5778C7AE6BFF40A17A0F23BAA33B2503E15B6A@apaubmwmbx03.cslg1.cslg.net>
Hi all,
'Hills doesn't go out as often as it used to, so this will probably end
up being very much out of date but...
I've unfortunately been told the news that fellow Chalkhillian Paul
Culnane has sadly gone to the great gig in the sky!!
I know very few of you met him, but many of us had plenty to do with him
over the years.
I met Paul through Chalkhills, all at his initiation of course (he
always did have plenty of chutzpah...) We initially became what would
have been known as "XTC penfriends" in days of yore. I'd like to think
it subsequently developed into more of a mateship for a while there. We
had extensive e-mail exchanges, lengthy phone conversations over the
better part of ten years - mainly about music, but sometimes drifting
off into more cerebral territory. I stayed at his place, he stayed at
mine a couple of times. We sent each other CD-mixes and introduced each
other to new music. It's fair to say he introduced me to far, far more
than I did him. He was a crazy bugger, but infectiously enthusiastic -
often too much so.
The good (nay, great) times didn't last, and some of his dirty laundry
was aired in this very forum - distasteful for all, and more often than
not of his own doing. He became a bit too hard to handle, and pissed a
lot of people off (including one Andy Partridge). He and I never had
heated words or fisticuffs, but in the end I guess I ran out of patience
and kinda shut him out. Unfortunately, I know I'm not the only one...
We sporadically made contact over the last few years, but it was never
the same. I was reluctant to get sucked into the maelstrom again. Paul
maddeningly drifted in and out of togetherness - sometimes the true Paul
(witty, charismatic, razor-sharp) would appear, but never consistently
enough to rebuild many of the bridges he'd burned. I'd always hoped
that the black clouds would lift for good, but sadly that day will never
arrive.
Despite all this, I'll elect to regard him fondly and remember the good
times most of all. I'd urge everyone to do the same. The demons made
him do some bloody foolish things, but deep down he really was a diamond
- a guy with a deep-seated passion for music, who was *extremely*
generous with his music collection and knowledge (check the Net if in
doubt...) My music schooling is definitely more well-rounded for having
known him.
RIP Paul.
Ruefully,
Dom

------------------------------
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:54:26 -0800 (PST)
From: Susan Rubino <rubino47@att.net>
Subject: Regarding "Bags of Fun With Buster"
Message-ID: <211185.83854.qm@web83302.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
There seems to be two versions of said song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4bIYbuc4_Ihttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iax4xvhUVBA
I didn't see anything in the Chalkhills "Recordings" about two separate
versions. Any insight?

------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:10:19 -0500
From: "Scott N." <sgot@busydigits.net>
Subject: Mike & Andy
Message-ID: <15773784.105406.1298419819475.JavaMail.servlet@pustefix137.perfora.net>
Good People of the Chalk,
Thought this bit from Mike Keneally's latest KENEALIST mailing might be of
interest:
"Now I'm becoming re-re-accustomed to being home after all the many
travelings lately, and preparing to head back to the Manor for work on
Scambot 2 and the album containing the Andy Partridge collaborative music (I
need to think of a code name for that album: I choose Dag Ol' Vedanta until
I think of anything else)."
I, for one, am already salivating over this eventual release. I need water!
Scott Nuckles